The Raiders are making no mystery out of their quarterback plan. Kirk Cousins is expected to open Week 1 as the starter, and Las Vegas is comfortable letting Fernando Mendoza learn behind him while the offense gets steered by a veteran who already knows the system.
That confidence in Cousins is a big part of why the Raiders brought him in this offseason after hiring Klint Kubiak as head coach. Las Vegas also drafted Mendoza, but the long-term view on the rookie hasn’t changed: the staff wants him developing, not being thrown straight into the fire. For the Raiders, the appeal is clear - Cousins brings a steady hand, a full understanding of Kubiak’s offense, and the kind of pre-snap command that can keep everyone lined up and on the same page.
Jalon Nailor spoke with reporters on Sunday and explained why the team trusts the 37-year-old quarterback so much. Cousins has built his reputation on handling the mental side of the position as much as the physical one, identifying what the defense is doing before the snap and relaying that information to the rest of the offense. That sort of processing is exactly what the Raiders want Mendoza to absorb from the sideline.
There’s also the reality of where Cousins is physically at this stage of his career. After tearing his Achilles tendon in 2023, he is not the same quarterback he once was. But even with those limitations, the 14-year veteran is still expected to keep the offense moving on schedule.
The Raiders have tried to help him do that by adding reinforcements up front, including center Tyler Linderbaum. More pressure will naturally put a cap on what this offense can do, but Cousins’ experience and command of the scheme are the reasons his teammates trust him to run it.
In Other News...
Fernando Mendoza Is Forcing A Raiders Camp Question They Can't Ignore
Training camp has already given the Raiders a few encouraging signs on offense, with Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty, Kolton Miller and Tyler Linderbaum all drawing praise for the way they are fitting into the mix. The early returns also suggest Las Vegas may have found some real muscle on the defensive side, where new faces like Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean and Kwity Paye are expected to raise the level of the front seven, while Tonka Hemingway has started to look like a potential force up front. Even the secondary appears to have taken a step through the offseason, though there are still a few position battles to sort out.
Amid all of that, Fernando Mendoza has become one of the most interesting storylines in camp. The first overall pick is still spending most of his time with the second unit, but the traits he is showing are hard to ignore and are beginning to press the bigger question the Raiders have to answer at quarterback. In a camp full of movement, depth chart tinkering and optimism around the roster, Mendozas progress is making it increasingly clear that this part of the roster could shape the rest of the summer. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Receiver Battle Just Got More Complicated For Dont'e Thornton
The fourth day of Raiders training camp brought another look at an offense still sorting through its pieces, with the staff spending time on specific game plans and quarterbacks under the microscope. Mendoza had a rough practice, capped by an interception returned for a touchdown, while veteran Kirk Cousins continues to be part of the quarterback conversation as the team works through its early camp evaluation.
For Dont'e Thornton, the day added another layer to a receiver battle that was already going to be competitive. He has the size and upside to keep in the mix, but camp moments like this matter, especially when the Raiders are trying to narrow down roles and build consistency. He still has time to develop, yet practices like this one are reminders that every rep is being watched closely. [Read more 🡒]
Jackson Powers-Johnson Gets A Defining Raiders Chance He Can't Waste
Jackson Powers-Johnson enters this season at a pivotal point in his young Raiders career, with the team still trying to sort out what his best role looks like after injuries and coaching changes slowed his development. The upside has always been clear, and Las Vegas has continued to view him as a lineman worth investing in as it reshapes the interior of the offensive line.
John Spytek has backed that belief publicly, and the next step is for Powers-Johnson to turn that support into a job he can keep. He is in the mix at right guard and will have to win the competition for the spot, with the Raiders asking him to show the consistency and reliability that were harder to establish during the turmoil around him. [Read more 🡒]